Category Archives: Recommended Reads
Everard Baths Fire of 1977
Today on Back to Stonewall, they ran a piece about the 1977 fire at the Everard Baths. 38 years ago, nine patrons (ages 17 to 40) were killed in a fire: seven from smoke inhalation, one from respiratory burns, and one who had jumped from an upper floor.
A sprinkler system had been installed at the baths but was not hooked up to a water supply. The bathhouse had been ordered to install the sprinkler system a year ago, but the deadline for its operation was not until the coming July 27.
Despite total destruction of the top two floors, the two floors were rebuilt and The Everard Baths baths would reopen and stay open for another nine years until April of 1986 when it was closed by New York City mayor Ed Koch during the city’s campaign to close gay sec venues during the AIDS epidemic.
Read more (plus VIDEO) at Back to Stonewall.
Humans of New York
I just love this site – and I am sure you must know of it, but if not, NOW YOU DO!
“Brandon and I began Humans of New York in the summer of 2010. I thought it would be really cool to create an exhaustive catalogue of New York City’s inhabitants, so I set out to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers and plot their photos on a map. I worked for several months with this goal in mind, but somewhere along the way, HONY began to take on a much different character.
I started collecting quotes and short stories from the people I met, and began including these snippets alongside the photographs. Taken together, these portraits and captions became the subject of a vibrant blog. With over eight million followers on social media, HONY now provides a worldwide audience with daily glimpses into the lives of strangers in New York City. It has also become a #1 NYT bestselling book.. It’s been quite a ride so far. Feel free to follow along.”
I would highly recommend the BOOK as well!
Model Actor Mark MacKillop ROOM FOURTEEN
Mark MacKillop is a singer actor dancer. Originally from Vancouver he studied ballet in Vancouver with Li Yaming at Pacific DanceArts and spent summers training with the Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York, both on full scholarship. After three years dancing with the Atlanta Ballet Mark moved to New York to pursue musical theatre and just finished a year on tour playing Riff with the international production of West Side Story – which leads us to this story about Mark!
Earlier this year, our good friend Michael Cavnaugh, founder of HEROnews.org and HIVhero.org interviews the very talented and handsome Mark MacKillop – the Broadway HERO of the month. Mark talks about his international tour of West Side Story, Broadway Bares, his struggle to become a performer and so much more. This man is an inspiration, smart sexy and a great guy- please check it out here!
From Huffington Post: New York performer Mark MacKillop offers musical theater fans a provocative peek at the offstage life of a working actor in his coffee table book, Rm. XIV.
The new book comprises 80 black-and-white selfies of MacKillop in various stages of undress, shot in various hotel rooms around the world while he was in the midst of an international tour of “West Side Story” last year.
Though the steamy images will no doubt set pulses racing, MacKillop sees Rm. XIV as capturing “physicality, composition, reflection” as opposed to being intentionally scintillating.
“I had just finished a year touring all over Europe and Israel with the international production of West Side Story. During the course of my time abroad i started taking pictures of myself in each hotel room I stayed in. This quickly became a staple of my experience on tour.”
“ Surprisingly traveling around with 30 cast members and a 30 piece orchestra left me feeling incredibly isolated and at times lonely. I used the photos as a way of connecting with friends who I was separated from to give them a unique, intimate look at my life on the road,” MacKillop, who originally hails from Canada, told The Huffington Post. Noting that he shot all of the images on his iPhone with a self-timer app, – which are REALLY REALLY GOOD!! “I definitely wouldn’t call myself a photographer. I would just call myself an artist exploring in various mediums.”
MacKillop, who is openly gay, said the photos also represent a very personal journey, and were partly inspired by Tom of Finland in addition to his own ballet and modern dance training.
A very successful kickstarter campaign was launched and the book was printed!
(Photo Right : is from one of the MANY fashion shoots Mark has done. Photographer Walter Kurtz Emporio Armani Underwear. See more on Pinterest.)
Having performed in the 2014 installment of “Broadway Bares,” MacKillop will donate a portion of the proceeds from Rm. XIV to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). In addition, the book will feature an introduction by Tony Award-winning “Kinky Boots” star Billy Porter and a foreword authored by New York artist Robert W. Richards.
You can read more about Rm. XIV here. BUY THE BOOK!
Sneak Peak Video on YouTube
Instagram @markmackillop
Twitter @mark_mackillop
markmackillop.net
On a side note…..
OCTOBER 19th! Please support this event! $20 tickets. Other donations on Indigo.
The best of both worlds performing together.
Featuring performances from the brightest stars from Broadway and Ballet.
Honoring The Actors Fund, Tony Award Winner, Jerry Mitchell and Ballet Star, Stephen Hanna
A benefit for HERO – HIV Experience Resources Organization.
Sunday, October 19th, 2014
42 West, 516 West 42nd Street, NYC
8–10 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Purchase Tickets $20 General Admission – Premium seating $100 – Tables of Ten
New Book looks at the history of New York Nightlife…THE FUN: THE SOCIAL PRACTICE OF NIGHTLIFE IN NYC
is a first-of-its-kind publication, documenting the new forms of
nightlife practitioners to emerge since the turn of the millennium.
Through profiles of over 30 artists, including the royalty of Manhattan
nightlife like Susanne Bartsch and Ladyfag; hybrid forms like Xtapussy
and FCKNLZ; the continuation of minimal wave and goth communities
through Pendu Disco; and the vibrant queer scenes of JUDY, Frankie
Sharp, and My Chiffon is Wet, THE FUN documents the rich
contemporary cultural activity keeping NYC as weird and innovative as
decades past.
voices in the nightlife, including artists Rob Roth and Genesis
P-Orridge, curators and critics Claire Bishop and Jake Yuzna, as well as
journalist Michael Musto providing both historical context and
contemporary understanding of nightlife as a vital artistic practice
that has been marginalized by the arts sector for hundreds of years.
from the explosion of large and small discos throughout the 1970s like
Studio 54, which paved the way for 80s megaclubs; the candy-colored club
kid movement of Michael Alig and the Limelight in the early 90s; the
parallel expansion of the boundary shattering merger of drag,
performance, and music in downtown venues such as the Pyramid Club and
Mother; the rise of Brooklyn as a new focal point in the 2000s with the
emergence of Luxx, Secret Project Robot, Silent Barn and other hybrid
arts/music/nightlife venues; and on into the many vibrant forms found
today.
978-1-57687-659-6, $39.95)
from Paris Hilton and Lydia Hearst to the Backstreet Boys, Foxy Brown
and Gwen Stefani was drawn to their taste for sparkly streetwear glam.
“The clothes were attention getting and fun,” Heatherette’s longtime
friend and muse Amanda Lepore remembers. “They had a distinct look,
which at that time — everyone wanted it. David LaChapelle was using it. All the
celebrities wanted it. It was in demand.” (from Paper Mag).
while Rich is set to launching two fashion lines this spring: Rich
& Warr, a mens line, and a womens, Chantilly Rich, with Chantilly
Lace designer, Chantelle Warr. Although busy, Rich still has his eye on
the club scene. “It’s been fun watching the new generation of kids. When
I moved to New York I was ‘the new’ to the old nightlife generation,”
Richie says. “Now it’s fun to see all the new kids coming on the block
and dressing up. I feel like the style is coming back. Who knows, maybe
Heatherette will too.”
HEAL THIS WAY by Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters November 12th
Gaga’s Little Monsters’
Benefiting The Trevor Project
Tracey B. Wilson to Host Star Studded Little Monster Celebration with Launch of Heal This Way: A Love Story.
Appearances by special guests: TBA
Presentation by
The Trevor Project and more!
WHAT: Lady Gaga’s fans share their feelings on coming out and bullying in new book ‘Heal
This Way: A Love Story’ published, compiled by a selection of Lady
Gaga’s fans aka Little Monsters, who share their emotions about coming
out, bullying, suicide and the need for acceptance.
With photographs by Born This Way
tour photographer Tracey B. Wilson. The book was originally planned as a
‘get well’ to Gaga after she was forced to pull out of her 2013 tour
due to a hip injury. All proceeds from the launch party benefit The Trevor Project in supporting LGBT youth on an anit-bullying platform. Our goal is to inspire, encourage,
and motivate LGBT youth , uplift the human spirit, build confidence, and raise awareness on the effects of bullying>
More info: Healthisway.com
WHEN: Tuesday, November 12th 7pm
WHERE: Manhattan Ballroom – 2nd fl
29 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018
Gramercy Tavern Cookbook Farm to Table Recipes
One of the best New York restaurants, a culinary landmark that has
been changing the face of American dining for decades, now shares its
beloved recipes, stories, and pioneering philosophy.
Hospitality Group, which includes Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern,
Blue Smoke, Shake Shack, Union Square Events, The Modern, Maialino,
Untitled, and North End Grill.
become a New York institution earning dozens of accolades, including six
James Beard awards. Its impeccable, fiercely seasonal cooking,
welcoming and convivial atmosphere, and steadfast commitment to
hospitality are unparalleled. The restaurant has its own magic—a sense
of community and generosity—that’s captured in these pages for everyone
to bring home and savor through 125 recipes.
The Gramercy Tavern Cookbook
Eating My Feelings Gay Author Mark Brennan Rosenberg in Brooklyn August 14th
Ever since MARK BRENNAN ROSENBERG was a foul-mouthed,sass-spouting, overweight teenager, he knew his life was one for thebooks. And he was right: with the publication of his first memoir
GAY NEW YORK book Still Top Seller at Amazon
…DID YOU KNOW?
that before the 1960s gay life existed only in the closet, where gay men
were isolated, invisible, and self-hating. Based on years of research
and access to a rich trove of diaries, legal records, and other
unpublished documents, this book is a fascinating portrait of a gay
world that is not supposed to have existed.
Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940
Chicago Club Kids Bring FACE to Nightclubs
Legendary Chicago club kid, doll maker, makeup artist, costumer, and penis-sculpture enthusiast JoJo Baby costars with his clubbing companion, Sal-E, in Bernard Colbert’s lush new 12″ x 12″ coffee-table book Getting into Face: 52 Mondays Featuring Jojo Baby and Sal-e
(Schiffer).
For 17 years, Bernard has been perfecting his craft, working in the field of commercial and advertising photography.
‘In the vibrant community where I live and work, I find what I have
always been searching for- a sublime energy. Nightlife activity blends
with the arts and diversity of self expression abounds. Here, I can
freely pursue my dream: to document and celebrate that spark within,
which defines the unique nature of our human experience.’
performance artists JoJo Baby and Sal-E use their bodies as canvases to
become inspired and whimsical conceptual characters, executed with
expert skill using original, theatrical makeup and costumes. In more
than 100 portraits, photographer Bernard Colbert rigorously captures
these two performance artists in genius moments as psychedelic Hindi
gods, comic book villains, fantastical creatures, astronauts, and much,
much more.
Colbert’s stunning portraits document these delightful
transformations over a five-year period and are the same body of work
featured in the Clive Barker documentary titled JoJo Baby. Through
Colbert’s collaboration with JoJo and Sal, viewers can experience a
front row seat to an ongoing show which has been entertaining club goers
in Chicago for two decades. This is a portfolio for the visually
adventuress and fans of true creative vision.
Every Monday night, JoJo Baby with friend Sal-E have gone to work as
hosts of Chicago’s largest and longest running house-music dance party,
the Boom Boom Room, which is currently on hiatus from its usual location
at Green Dolphin St., 2220 N. Ashland Ave., while the building
undergoes renovation. It took the duo hours to prepare, and Colbert was
there every week to capture the endlessly entertaining process. He said
he usually only had 10 to 15 minutes to photograph them before they went
on stage.
“Sometimes they would show up and I would look at what they were
wearing and try and quickly comprehend what they were up to, because
sometimes it’s high concept and it’s not obvious right away,” Colbert
said. “It’s interesting right away, but it’s like, ‘What the heck is
going on?’ So I scramble and try and make it happen.”
Colbert, who took courses in commercial photography at Columbia from
1989–1991, said he loves portrait photography and has been drawn to
performers such as models, musicians and athletes—people who are both
interesting and like being photographed.
The combination of unplanned imagination and spontaneity kept Colbert
continually inspired. He said the most successful images captured an
indescribable magic that would often occur.
“It was something that would elevate it from an interesting time to
really high art, and it’s something that fascinates me,” Colbert said.
“It feels elusive, but when you find that you can do it time and time
again, it’s really fun to keep trying to do it.”
Getting into Face: 52 Mondays Featuring Jojo Baby and Sal-e
Rooftop BBQ discount for July 14th Benefit
“I’m From Driftwood”
Summer Rooftop BBQ Fundraiser
Date: Saturday, July 14
Time: 4:00 – 8:00PM
Location: Casa de Costa Gallery Space,
11 Stone Street, 6th Floor, NYC
Tickets: $50
(only $40 for Best Gay New York readers!)
“I’m From Driftwood” (www.imfromdriftwood.com)
is creating the world’s largest online archive of personal LGBTQ
stories to deepen our understanding of each other, preserve our history,
and open hearts and minds. It is currently working on its Elder
Community Spotlight, which will feature stories from members of the
Elder LGBT Community. In order to finish the project, IFD is having a
Rooftop BBQ to help raise funds.
We’re offering Best Gay New York readers a $10 discount
to come have a great time and learn more about I’m From Driftwood.
Please contact Nathan (nathan@imfromdriftwood.com) for details on how to receive
this discount.
With an open bar by El Dorado Rum,
Brooklyn Brewery, and Tito’s Vodka, and BBQ prepared by Chef Paul
Busey, the Rooftop BBQ will be held at Casa de Costa gallery space in
lower Manhattan, on Saturday, July 14, from 4:00 – 8:00pm. The
impressive and growing list of Raffle Prizes and Silent Auction items
include:
– Frette, $1000 of items
– Wicked: The Musical (2 tickets and backstage passes)
– Channing Daughters Vineyard tour, tasting, and 2-4 bottles.
– Framed art by photographer Josh McNey
– Dirty Sugar Photography: 1-hour photo service
– $250 Marriott Reward Cheques
– Dessert Truck, Chocolate Souffle Class for 2
– Uber app (your on-demand private driver; get a cab anywhere, any time), $100 credit
– Sustainable NYC gift card
– Leslie Lohman Museum membership and magazines
– Smitten Kitten gift card
– Marimacho – bowtie and belt
– Autostraddle tote bag
– The Grey Dog gift card
SEE YOU THERE!
– Butter Lane Cupcakes gift certificate for 2 dozen cupcakes
Hedda Lettuce – What is Gay Pride
This week, HEDDA LETTUCE Said, “The gay community owns the month of June. Yea bitches, that’s how we
roll. City after city celebrate gay pride consisting of a parades
teeming with half clad men; lesbians flashing their tits; drag queens
flashing their asses in colorful head dresses and six inch stilettos;
and leather queens in harnesses showing more skin than necessary. I am
still blind in my right eye after glimpsing a 75 year old mans sagging
ass in a pair of leather chaps. Personally that does not say pride to
me. It says lipo and perhaps a good stretch mark cream.”
DOES THIS SAY PRIDE?
When you hear a word used so often, one forgets the meaning. So I
went to my handy dandy dictionary to look up the word pride; here is
what popped up.
PRIDE
1. A sense of one’s own proper dignity or value; self-respect. (How a dimpled ass in chaps says self-respect I will never know)
2. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement.
(When I satisfy a man, and the gentleman sends me a card afterward
telling me what I great job I did, my chest does swell with pride)
3. Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment;
haughtiness. (There have been times when I have mistaken arrogance with
pride. For instance, when I am in a room filled with other drag queens
and I look around and say to myself, “What a sick group of people.
Standing there with their balls shoved up their asses and razor bumps on
their tits. I am so much better than these deviants.” Then I catch a
glimpse of my five o’clock shadow in a mirror and I am snapped back into
humility)
4. A flamboyant or impressive group. (This is my favorite definition, which I believe accurately describes our community)
Read about Hedda’s great pride float story!
Gay Message Boards for New York City
You
have searched for a long time for the person with whom you can fall asleep in the evening with and you will cozy wake
up in the morning….
Maybe you are going on some travel to the most beautiful
cities of the world and want to find the fellow traveler….
Maybe you
have decided to change a job or your living situation, and you can not find suitable choices….
Thanks to a brand new free service of message boards and announcements GayFG.com,
it will became much easier to solve any gay issues!
Sort of a gay New York CraigsList!
The procedure of placing of the announcement on the board is easy and convenient.
Just fill out the special form on a site, fill out your name and e-mail address.
NO registration needed and it is absolutely
free!
Responses to the announcement come directly to your e-mail, thus interested visitors/responders may attach a photo and other images. Your e-mail remains
hidden and confidential before you make a decision to answer on the entering message.
Placeannouncements or responses to :
– ADS ABOUT DATING,
– WORK,
– RENT,
– GAY FITNESS AND SPORTS,
– TRAVEL,
– OF 30 AND OLDER,
– BEARS,
– BDSM,
– LESBIAN,
– GAY+LESBIAN,
– TRANS
etc.
GAY FUCKING GOOD GayFG.com
Grammy and Tony Winner Betty Buckley Talks About Boys of Broadway
“My new CD “Ghostlight” produced by T Bone Burnett will hopefully be released in February of 2012. I love the recording and can’t wait to share it with everyone. It’s a very haunting, romantic collection of music.”
Betty Buckley is returning to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency in NYC in her brand new show “Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway” from October 4-29. Come hear Betty sing men’s songs from Broadway shows that she has always wanted to sing, including numbers from “Sweeney Todd,” “West Side Story,” “Guys and Dolls,” “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,” “Pippin,” and “La Cage Aux Folles.”
“I love my new collection of music for Feinstein’s. They are some of the most beautiful songs ever like “Maria” and “Younger Than Springtime.” The concept of all men’s songs has given me the opportunity to sing songs I’ve always loved and would not ordinarily get to sing.
And my pianist Christian Jacob who has done many of the arrangements is truly wonderful. My collaborators Eric Stern and Eric Kornfeld have done amazing work on the show as well. “ Betty tells Adam from Adaumbelles Quest, in a recent interview.
Read the full interview at Adaumbelles Quest!
Feinstein’s at Loews Regency is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street. Get tickets! online.
Andy Warhol’s New York – Dead But Not Forgotten
New Yorkers will savor glimpses of the city’s icons—vanished (Schrafft’s), current (Serendipity 3), and never realized (the Andy-Mat); art lovers will appreciate the listing of Warhol’s many gallery shows; anyone interested in fashion and celebrity will be intrigued by the details of his stylish world. There are sidebars on Warhol’s residences, favorite restaurants, and factories. Brief biographies of personalities in the book describe the cast of glittering characters that enter and leave the stage as Warhol’s mesmerizing story unfolds. Nine original drawings in the book were made specially for Andy Warhol’s New York City by the artist Vito Giallo, a former studio assistant of Warhol’s who assisted in the making of hundreds of Warhol’s ink blot drawings, and who later owned the antique store where Warhol bought thousands of items that were posthumously auctioned at Sotheby’s. The eighty sites are divided into four walks: A “star system” lets readers know at a glance what sites are still in existence, which have been razed, and which are still standing but no longer the Warhol-associated site described.
Andy, Andy everywhere.
Few figures have influenced New York City—its art, its commerce, its style, its nightlife, its legend s—like Andy Warhol. The eighty sites in Andy Warhol’s New York City bring to life the electrifying world he created and include his Factories and residences, as well as clubs, museums, boutiques, restaurants, and dozens of glamorous and gritty places in between.
I Upper East Side (above East 70th Street)
II Upper East Side (East 57th to East 68th Street)
III Midtown
IV Downtown (Murray Hill, Chelsea, Rose Hill, Union Square, East Village, Greenwich Village)
About $11 online now!
PRIVATE ACTS The Acrobat Sublime
“The practice of acrobatics is the artistic and athletic metaphor for the process
of making an impossible dream a reality.”—Harriet Heyman
Nearly twenty years ago, author and journalist Harriet Heyman enrolled her two toddlers in an acrobatics class at a hole-in-the-wall circus school in San Francisco. Although her children’s interest in the sport faded, Heyman’s evolved into an obsession. She’s studied the language, history, and tradition, has trained on the flying trapeze for over fifteen years, and now brings her knowledge and passion for this art form to the pages of Private Acts: The Acrobat Sublime. In three captivating essays, Heyman describes firsthand the life-changing experience of training as an acrobat, and what motivates these artists.
Acey Harper’s black-and-white photographs document gravity-defying acts in this collection of sensual and mesmerizing images that capture the explosive energy of acrobats. Harper “…came to recognize them as partners and collaborators in creating theses unique images, which are part photography and part performance art.”
PRIVATE ACTS shows these artist-athletes in a different light, liberated from the confines of the tent and stage, stripped of costumes, make-up, and body paint. The photographs reveal the acrobats’ physical agility and raw emotions, and their beautiful, well-trained bodies captured in diverse settings across the country—from the beaches in the Marin Headlands, forests in Vermont, and the Black Rock Desert, to a gritty urban New Jersey steel mill, the streets of San Francisco, and the New York City subway. – The book features many performers from New York City.
Although technological advancement has steered the masses away from more traditional forms of entertainment, Heyman believes there is “…a direct evolutionary line from the flesh-and-blood circus acrobats to the pulp and celluloid Superman to IMAXed Avatar.” Acrobatics is experiencing a renaissance in contemporary popular culture and PRIVATE ACTS: THE ACROBAT SUBLIME pays homage to this art form through striking photos of artist-athletes who are passionately dedicated to their craft.
PRIVATE ACTS: The Acrobat Sublime By Harriet Heyman
Photography by Acey Harper
Hardcover / 224 pages / 9½” x 9½” / 100 photographs
Rizzoli New York Private Acts: The Acrobat Sublime
David Leddick at Rizzoli June 2
In Love in the Loire, the newest book by David Leddick, Hugo is now in his early twenties, an actor, and working in a summer theater festival in a French village. New York celebrities muster there and Hugo confronts lots of romance and the decision as to what will be next in his life.
BOOK PARTY FOR DAVID LEDDICK’S
NEW NOVEL “Love in the Loire “
Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 PM
Rizzoli Bookstore
31 West 57th St. (Between 5th & 6th Avenues)
New York, NY 10019
David Leddick Online
and David Leddicks Fabulous Blog
Davids Gay Dish
David Leddick is known world-wide for his novels and homoerotic art books. The author of the Lambda Award-winning books: “Naked Men” and “The Male Nude”, David Leddick has published no less than 20 works.
BestGayNewYork.com
Casper Andreas Talks With Adaumbelles Quest
He’s a performer, director, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Sweden, Casper moved to NYC at the age of 20 with dreams of being on stage and big city glamour.
After sometime Casper decided to head West to Hollywood where he wrote several screenplays, studied directing, and took seminars in filmmaking at IFP/West, but eventually came back to New York where he continued to write, direct, and produce short films as well as his first feature, the multi-award winning film “Slutty Summer” (in which Casper also starred in along with fellow “Adaumbelle’s Quest” participant Jesse Archer).
“I’ve always loved storytelling. As a kid I used to make up stories all the time, and for a long time I thought I was going to be a writer. Then I discovered acting. I moved to New York to attend acting school, and for many years I was pursuing acting in New York and Los Angeles. I found, however, that the career of an actor isn’t terribly rewarding in a creative way.” – Casper tells Adaumbelles Quest.
Other films include “A Four Letter Word” (which he co-wrote with Jesse Archer). “Between Love and Goodbye”, “Violet Tendencies ” (written by Jesse Archer and starred Jesse and Casper along with Mindy Cohn from “The Facts of Life”) is arriving on DVD May 24.
“Going Down in LA LA Land” is currently making it’s rounds at various film festivals around the world, and greating rave reviews! – And stars the very sexy Matthew Ludwinski!
Our buddy and New York blogger Adam Rothenberg of Adaumbelles Quest recently interviewed Casper about the business and his new project, LA LA LAND.
Casper Andreas talks with Adaumbelles Quest.
Check it out!
BestGayNewYork.com
My Parents Were Awesome by Eliot Glazer April 5th
Your mom and dad weren’t always parents.
They used to be people—and they were awesome. Eliot Glazer visits The powerHouse Arena (Brooklyn) with his new book based on his popular blog
MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME
to convince you that your parents were once Awesome, too.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5th, 2011.
He’ll be joined by Rachel Shukert, Rachel Sklar, and Dave Itzkoff with stand-up from Giulia Rozzi.
About “My Parents Were Awesome”:
They bathed you. They fed you. They raised you to become the person you are today. Your parents are an integral part of your story. But guess what? They have a story too—one that started long before you entered the picture. Before embarrassing fanny packs and Lite FM, there was a time when Mom and Dad were young and carefree—just like you. They were also fun and flirty, full of hope and desire and effortlessly cool.
Based on the wildly popular website, My Parents Were Awesome shares heartwarming and hilarious essays by sons and daughters—including Jamie Deen, Christian Lander, Dave Itzkoff, Katherine Center, Laurie Notaro, and Holly Peterson—who tell tales of their folks before babies, mortgages, and receding hairlines: the mom and dad who traveled by VW bus to see Led Zeppelin for $1, the grandmother whose halter top and shorts belied her perfect demeanor, the father whose wanderlust passed down to his equally nomadic daughter. Accompanied by treasured vintage photographs, these stories will make you laugh, melt your heart, and spark your own reflections of Mom and Dad.
Tuesday, April 5 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm @ The Powerhouse Arena
37 Main Street in D.U.M.B.O. Brooklyn, NY
There will be a Q&A, as well as readings from Dave Itzkoff, Rachel Shukert, and Rachel Sklar, and stand-up comedy courtesy of contributor Giulia Rozzi.
There will also be wine!
Free wine! Like Ancient Greece!
· Originally created as a website with over 10,000 submissions, 1,600 postings, and 1.2 million unique visitors myparentswereawesome.com is an Internet phenomenon; The site became an instant hit, with features on NPR’s All Things Considered, Fox News, ABC News and more. And now Glazer combines the spontaneity and nuance of old photographs with stories by sons and daughters in a heartwarming collection of essays.
· MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME is now a book published by Random House and includes 40 essays with pictures of moms and dads from authors including the son of Paula Deen, New York Times columnist Dave Itzkoff, Onion News Network writer Aaron Khefeits, Christian Lander (the author of Stuff White People Like) and many more;
Eliot Glazer is a gay writer, producer, and comedian. He blogs for MTV’s Buzzworthy and is an editor at the humor website Urlesque.com. He performs regularly at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade.
BUY THE BOOK!
Best Gay New York.com
Joe Oppedisano and His Masculine Male Images in Photography
His men are classic strong figures,
masculine and confident.
They force the viewer to sit up, take notice of their command and sexual allure that has no shame or remorse.
The details of his images are sometimes immediately noticeable, sometimes, you must look again and again to see the tiniest piece of information that was missed in the first several glances, but they are the details that pull the photograph together, and bring the world of Joe Oppedisano’s photography 360 degrees. These are the defining characteristics that have earned him the comparisons to Caravaggio, Tom of Finland, and more recently named him the most obvious heir to Robert Mapplethorpe, as well as his body of work to date, the face of his generation.
Joe first studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After a short stint as stripper ! he worked as a fashion editor for W, Vanity Fair, L’Uomo Vogue and others. Only in America, RIGHT?!
At the age of 30 he decided to never again dress up like a model and taught himself photography.
He lives and works in New York City.
Joe Oppedisano.com and JO Uncensored
BUY THE BOOKS!
Uncensored
and Testosterone
and Knockout! on DVD.
Best Gay New York.com
Craig Moreau Chelsea Boy NYC
“Chelsea Boy,” a book of poetry that captures the voice of the post-Stonewall, post-AIDS, post-9/11 gay living in the center of the world’s greatest gayborhood, Chelsea of New York City.
“It’s true my disco ball/has some mirrors missing,” admits the narrator of 24-year-old Craig Moreau’s poem “The Grotto, San Francisco.” Whether or not you’re a habitual poetry reader, who can’t relate to admissions of imperfection?
From Iowa to New York! Check out Craig Moreau and his YouTube trailer!
Join his page on Facebook, for updates!
Best Gay New York.com
